There was an XKCD comic about that once. Thanks for reminding me of it. That also reminded me of Bean’s story, the one who would grow steadily physically for his entire life, until he reached a point where his body couldn’t support him and yet when Ender started at battle school, he was only about 3′ 6″. Good times…

And then we find out these things are the lady of the lake’s prized show serpents she has raised from eggs.

“You’ve killed my babies! What sort of king of dreamland are you?! You’re a psychopath!” She turns to Nastajia, “And you! Princess of the elves! I would have expected better of you than to latch onto the first “bad boy” you saw! You all disgust me! Get out of my ocean before a open up a can of regicide on your sorry fins!”

I would not lead them up in the least. As soon as they hit air they no longer have that awesome way of swimming fast and breathing water. Tactically the best bet is the corner between the sea floor and the lion head. A gap so narrow those large heads cannot fit into them.

The problem with up is, no cover. No concealment. No obstacles to slow down the serpents, it would all come down to who could swim the fastest. And I suspect that’s the serpents. Whereas if they go along the ocean floor there may be uneven terrain and boulders that would slow down pursuit, caves they could swim into the serpents couldn’t: Even if they could just reach the lion head wall and put their backs against it that would greatly restrict the directions they could be attacked from, and how many could get at them at a time. Whatever they’re going to do, though, they need to do it quick; the serpents are getting closer…

Are you sure Alex isn’t about to whack its nose with his sword in that panel? Thats what I would do if some thing with big teeth was moving towards me with the intent to eat me. Grab a tooth, and use it to keep some distance so I don’t have to worry about it clamping down on say, my tail, while allowing me to still fight back. Also, the first serpent tried to eat them, so they aren’t in a very talkative mood if they are intelligent.

Also it seems strange to me that Alex has his hand on a tooth of a serpant. Why? Because if they’re all that close, then they could easily be “fish food”.

Two thoughts:

1) Are they a communal group, or are they a “ever beast for itself”. So, if one launches at our heros, will others attack said beast to defends it’s future food source, or will they share?

2) Perhaps they’re not GOING to attack. They killed one of the serpants, but maybe it was guarding the lion head/Lady of the Lake. Once they dispatched the first serpent, the others recognized Alex as the new king?